January 2019 by AngelicMagazine

JESUS.

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ANGELIC J A N U A R Y

2 0 1 9

This issue is for the hope filled who are believing for an amazing 2019.

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happy ne

JANUARY TWEN

ew year

NTY NINETEEN

new year

EDITOR LETTER

JESSE ANAYA

ith a new year comes new hopes, new dreams and and often so hard to keep but this is our life, our journ challenge to myself this year is can I climb Everes figuratively, can I climb the mountain of my goals? Resolutions have a bad wrap for not being fulfilled hope for what we want to achieve. Don't be shy in declar in becoming who you want to be and what you want to dreams coming true. What's your goal for this new year? Whatever it may b and goals. So often we want to keep them hidden, embar and not sure if they'll ever come true. Who cares about w This is your year, your time, your goals, your dreams. Y dreams. Speak life over the desires in your heart. Pray about them If God is for you, who dare be against you? Happy New Year to you. May this year be life chan blessings and so much joy.

jesse anaya Blessings,

new enthusiasm. Resolutions made ney, our resolutions our time. My st? I'm not meaning literally but

but a New Year's Resolution is the ring your resolution. Don't be timid o become. This year is our year of

be don't be ashamed of your dreams rassed about what others may think what others think about your dreams. Your dreams are not other people's

m. Believe in them.

nging filled with love, spontaneous

M A G A Z I N E

F E A T U R E

L I N D S E Y

P E T E R S O N / ARTIST S A V A N N A H , G A

ANGELICTESTIMONY

LINDSEY PETERSON " J ES U S C H R I S T H A S S AV ED M E. H E’ S TH E V ERY F I B ER O F M Y B EI N G . H E, A N D H E A LO N E I S M Y O N LY H O P E."

remember it like it was yesterday. I wasn’t hearing anything I’ve never heard before, rather I was seeing it – or should I say believing it for the first time. I grew up attending church regularly with my family, which is a family of deep faith in God and in His son Jesus Christ. I learned about Jesus from a very young age, but it wasn’t until one day when I was 13, that I experienced God’s presence for the first time. I had heard about Jesus for as long as I can remember. I knew Jesus was (and is) the Son of God sent to earth to die on the cross for me (and for you). I knew He rose from the dead 3 days later so that I may live in eternity with Him. I knew I was a sinner. I knew I needed a Savior’s grace and forgiveness. I knew it all. Yet, knowing and believing are two very different things. I soon realized at a summer camp I attended, that all these things I had learned about Jesus I hadn’t yet decided for myself to believe and claim as Truth. In Jeremiah 29:13 God says, “Seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” While at that summer camp, I was seeking to find God and to find out if all I had been taught the first 13 years of my life was true. I can’t say I found God, but I can absolutely say He found me. He met me where I was (He still meets me where I am) and showed me His grace, love, peace, joy, and forgiveness. He captivated my heart and He set it free. At that summer camp, I went from knowing about Jesus, to believing and following Him with all my heart. I was captivated by Him and amazed that He would die for me…for you…for us. Through His death, we can be forgiven and through His life, we can be with Him in eternity. The hope, peace, and joy of Jesus Christ has filled my heart and soul since that day I choose to believe what He had done for me (for us).

I don’t know where I’d be without the Hope I have in Jesus Christ. Life can be hard. Life can be sad. Life can be joyous and frustrating and stressful and wonderful all at the same time. But without hope, what do we have? We are all searching in this life to be loved, to be healed, to be free from fear, to be accepted, and so on. Jesus did all of that (and more) when He gave His life in our place on the cross. He came to set us free, to love us, and to heal us. He meets us where we are, not because of anything we’ve done, but because He loves us beyond what we can fully grasp. Jesus Christ has saved me. He’s the very fiber of my being. He, and He alone is my only Hope. Just as Jesus grabbed my attention that day many years ago, I hope my designs and artwork grab the attention of people, stirring their hearts to ponder that which is greater than themselves – the beautiful, freeing love of Jesus Christ.

dream big W H AT G O I N G

YOU BACK FROM R D R E A M S I N 2 0 1 9 ?

H O L D I N G

F T E R

Y O U

B Y J E S S E A N A Y A

If God has put a dream in your heart, what’s holding you back from running after it? If God has put it in your heart, not only has He called you to it, He’s equipped you to fulfill it. What is your dream? What is stirring in you as you read this? Know that your dream isn’t crazy; your dream is God’s prompting inside of you to fulfill it in His name for His glory. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You’re handcrafted by God. Your interests, your passions and your dreams are created as well as given to you by God. And you are created in Him to do good works, which He’s already prepared for you to do. Respond to the call He’s given you. Go after your dream. And when selfdoubt tries to hold you back. When fear tells you to stay in your comfort zone. When you think of every reason your dream is impossible, remember, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 You are designed, equipped and called to dream big for God. He is at work within you. I'm handing my dreams over to you God. My dreams will come true in your might. Remind me that my dream isn't only mine but your dream for me. Remind me that you can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. Remind me that you are working behind the scenes on my behalf so that our dreams will come true. When I want to dream small, remind me to always dream big.

S P I R I T

O F

C O M P A R I S O N

NO MIND TO WHOSE POSTING TH D W H O ' S D O I N G T H AT. S TA G E D M O R E A L L I F E I S L I V E

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S O C I A L

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M E D I A

P O S T E D

B Y J E S S E A N A Y A

his year is going to be different. There’s only one of you. And there’s no one else is like you. You’re not average and you’re not destined for a mediocre year or an average life. Twenty nineteen is your year of dreams coming true. What you have to offer to the world, no one else can duplicate it. You’re extraordinary. The hand of God that is on you is the same hand that crafted you in the womb. The life He breathed into you is a life of blessing, a life of talent, a life of faith and a life of love. You are designed for greatness so believe in yourself. Any voice that says otherwise is not the voice of God. You are talented. You are equipped. And you are one of a kind. You are created as an extraordinary child of God and you are created to live an extraordinary abundant life. Believe this. Jesus has invited you into a journey of walking with Him and this is no ordinary journey. There is no such thing as an average life of walking with The Lord. Prepare your heart and mind for the radical adventure of walking with Him by your side in twenty nineteen. There’s no need to compare who you are or compare your walk with Jesus to that of someone else. You’re extraordinary. Your calling and walk with Him is unique. Your gifting is unique. God's timing in your life is unique. Trust His timing. Pay no mind to whose posting this on social media or who's doing that. Staged moments are posted, real life is lived and your life is created to be lived not staged. So live your life. Your calling. Your walk of faith. Your story is unique to you. Rebuke any spirit of comparison for what God is doing in someone else's life. Be excited for that person. Be inspired by God's blessings for someone else. Say this out loud: I am an extraordinary child of God and I am walking in my own unique walk with an extraordinary God, and I am living a beautifully designed life. Lord, thank you for making me your child. And thank you for making me unique and rare. I am one of a kind because of you and I will not compare myself to others. I rebuke a spirit of comparison from my life. Help me to realize and see the beautiful life you've given me. Help me to trust your timing as you walk with me in this New Year. I declare this will be our best year yet. Thank you for creating a unique walk for you and I, and thank you for your love.

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Mady Fischelli MY TESTIMONY

hen I look at my life, and I see the trials, the brokenness, the triumphs, the challenges, the overcoming, I see Jesus in the middle of it. He has always been in the middle of it. That’s the only reason I am where I am today. I’ve done nothing to deserve such a pure love. If anything, my pride, my vanity, my failures and sinful desires have given Him every reason to abandon me. But He stays. He has always stayed. I have struggled with insecurities. I was bullied. I had thoughts of selfharm. I’ve struggled with pride, lust, addiction, boastfulness, ignorance, the list goes on. It wasn’t until I saw the faithfulness of the Lord. It wasn’t until I saw His friendship, His undying connection to my heart. I let go. I let go of everything and let Him soften my very hard heart. I was damaged, but He made me brand new. He has given me purpose. Sometimes I stand in awe that a God so big would personally look after someone like me. I am a wretch. But because of his neverending grace, I can look forward to each and every day with expectation, passion, and purpose. I have worth. I have my best friend. He mended my broken pieces and made me a whole, beautiful new creation. So I live each day for Him. How could I not? He is the only reason I’m here. Because He got in the middle of my mess and turned it into a story. I am eternally thankful. ELF ST

HIS

HARM. I’VE GOES ON. IT FRIENDSHIP,

M A G A Z I N E COUPLE:

JORDAN

REID

F E A T U R E

M A D Y

F I S C H E L L I

P H O T O G R A P H E R D A L L A S , T X

. e v o l d n a af ith, hope

....

S T U G G L I N G

T O

B E

P O S I T I V E

"I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MY HUSBAND WHEN HE MADE THE REMARK OF "YOU ARE KIND OF NEGATIVE." I WAS TAKEN A BACK. "ME? NEGATIVE?" B Y K A Y T I E G A U S

Philippians 2:14. "Do everything without complaining and arguing." My mother used to recite this verse over and over to us when we were kids. As we would complain about doing chores, she would remind us that God himself demands us to do everything without grumbling. Well, I have a confession... I seemed to have forgotten that in my recent adult life. I've been aware that I complain from time to time. Maybe not to a stranger on the street, but to those closest to me, you can bet they get an earful every once in a while. Maybe the weather delayed my commute, maybe my boss asked me to stay for overtime when I had dinner plans, maybe the dogs woke me up in the middle of the night and now I have a headache, the list could go on. Most of the time these "excuses" for as to why I am not my best self aren't even conscious statements. They just fly off my tongue before I can formulate a better thought. I was having a conversation with my husband when he made the remark of "you are kind of negative." I was taken a back. "Me? Negative?" I have always thought of myself as a super optimistic person, cheering everyone on, always trying to be a light in the world, always looking for the good in situations. After a long conversation, I came to realize, that I am happy and optimistic for others, but I am negative and critical in regards to my own life situations. I complain about a work situation I am in, when I KNOW if it was a friend in my shoes, I would be giving her the greatest pep talk ever. If a colleague mentioned they couldn't fit all their projects into their schedule, I would help them rearrange their calendar to be able to do so. I always am able to find the silver lining for others, but when it comes to aspects of my life, I grumble and then continue on with life. Why am I negative? Why do I complain? I wrestled these thoughts for a few hours. I have a husband who loves me, a roof over my head, and a job many wish they had, and most importantly, a God who loves me. So, why do I complain? And I have come to this... I do not acknowledge my blessings enough or thank god for everything that is going right. I tend to take my life for granted, and expect everything should be smooth sailing. When an obstacle comes my way, I at times, let it be known, how much of an inconvenience it is to my own "ecosystem" of a life. If you find yourself to be resonating with me, or maybe you want to examine your own words and heart, I suggest this, thinking before speaking. Instead of saying, "I don't like my boss," ask a question to try to discover and solution for the situation. "I don't like my boss," could be phrased into a question such as, "I had this conflict with my boss, what would you do to come to an agreement?" Allow those around you the opportunity to be counselors, not just a trash can for you to spill your negativity into. And always, acknowledge God for everything good in your life, and ask him for wisdom throughout the trials. Ask him for a thankful heart and a soft tongue.

BIG DREAMS, LITTLE STEPS, GOD'S GLORY. Our big dreams are worth it, but only if God gets the glory.

B Y E M I L Y S E N F F

God has made us to be dreamers of big dreams, and people of great faith. When we hear the words 'routine' and 'discipline', our brains don't often connect them with the adventures that our hearts had in mind. The season of life that I find myself in currently is showing me more and more how they relate. While most times my life is in a constant state of movement from here to there, from responsibility to responsibility God has been moving me to slow down. When my Plan A didn't quite make His cut, it forced me to focus on the season in front of me. Instead of my many many plans, I was urged to go back to the basics to my routines and how I balance my life. While I pleaded with God to walk with me through the big changes, he brought me routine. It's funny how that works sometimes, isn't it? We tend to focus so much on the big picture that those little moments get lost in the flow. I've been learning that while it might just be a mix of seemingly small steps, routine creates an intentional, strong foundation. These are the jumping pads for the big changes around the corner. This, right here, is where the magic happens. While routine might not look like conquering any big mountains, it brings the preparation needed to walk every step and do it well. This is the lesson I am learning every day. I'm not sure about you, but I want to be rooted. When I think of the strongest of trees, I think about those roots. They are grounded; they're not going anywhere. Nothing that comes can sway them. They have grown over time, in a place where they remained planted. I want big dreams that come to fruition, too. When I see those trees, I see how big they can grow and how they can benefit the world around them. They are always growing; they're not stopping anytime soon. I want God to move in big ways, and so clearly that I can't deny that it's him that all of this would not be possible if it weren't for his direct intervention in my life. Maybe you find yourself in a season of roots, of grounding. Maybe your season is one of growth and movement. If you're prone to keep looking ahead, take a moment to look down at where you are what is God asking of you? When God whispers and your feet are ready to jump, what kind of foundation will it be jumping from? If you're feeling stuck, look at the routines of your every day. Where is God moving, and where is He telling you to stay grounded? Our big dreams are worth it, but only if God gets the glory. We can't conquer those mountains until we feel God's steadfastness beneath us. We can't freefall until we believe in faith that He has got us covered. We were made to dream big and leap far. Those big dreams are there on purpose, created for a reason. So regardless of the season whether it be growth or grounding, movement or rest, don't stop.The things that quicken your heart and put purpose in your step are not there by happenstance. You are where you are for reasons beyond your understanding right now. And God is walking with you, each and every step. Your dreams are the things that will bring about His glory.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MADY MODEL: HANNAH LOCATION: PLANO, TX

FISCHELLI

R I G H T E O U S N E S S V S . PE R F E C T I ON ARE YOU A PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

B Y J E S S E A N A Y A

s a Christian I want to distance myself from sin and grow closer to God. Though I pursue God, I realize how unlike Him I am. My spirit instinctly wants to fill itself with lust, sin, jealousy – seek wrath on those who mistreat me, desire materialistic pleasures of temporary happiness hoping to sustain myself and the perceptions I want to paint, and I realize how unlike God I am. I look nothing like Him. I desire for my spirit to be filled with goodness, kindness, love, purity and not sins or lust of the flesh, heart or mind. And everyday though my physical appearance looks like me, beneath the surface there is a grotesque war within me. So I ask myself has God called me to be righteous or to be perfect? Because nowhere in the Bible does God command Noah or Moses or even Adam and Eve to be perfect. Somewhere along the lines in Christian culture the expectation to paint yourself as perfect became the norm and lost was the realization that we weren't called to be perfected followers of Christ – we were commanded to pursue the righteousness of Christ. As a follower of Jesus Christ a feeling of shame can infiltrate itself inside of you as you realize you don't measure up to the perfection of Christ – but Jesus Himself never spoke a message calling for perfection, He spoke about righteousness. Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” To expect myself or another person to be perfect is unrealistic – but to have the standard of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, I believe this should be the Christian standard.

The definition of hunger: a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient The definition of thirst: to crave liquids vehemently and urgently To hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God is to vehemently and urgently seek Him throughout our day. Thirst and hunger is not quenched at one meal or a snack. It is a throughout the day – daily pursuit. In the midst of my internal war of pursuing God or pursuing what opposes God it is the pursuit of righteousness that will keep me coming back to Him and not sin. The Apostle Paul, writer of half of the chapters of the New Testament in the Bible and main advocate for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Roman Empire wrote in Romans: Romans 7:2125 “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The man responsible for spreading the Gospel out

of Jerusalem and across the entire world is detailing his own battle of righteousness and sin. Though there is goodness in us, no one outside of Jesus can deny the spiritual battle of good and evil that is at work within us. However, it's not a valid excuse to hide behind being imperfect as a reason to sin. Though grace saves, it is the daily pursuit of righteousness that will overcome evil with good. Luke 5:32 “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

. e v o l s i e s e h t f o t s e t a e r g e h t

U N I T Y & T H E WOR D N O G O D D O E S N ’ T W O R K I N A S E R I E S O F Y E S , U P O N Y E S , U P O N E A S Y A N D E A S I E R S T R E E T S . Y O U M U S T C H A S E A F T E R H I S PAT H , W O R K H A R D T O S T AY O N I T , A N D N O T A L L O W T H E D A R K N E S S T O S WA L L O W Y O U R V I S I O N A N D C A U S E Y O U T O L O S E S I G H T. B Y L A U R E N P R A T H E R

No. Two simple letters when combined put a halt to your dreams, a cease in your progress, and a screeching stop in your tracks. As a follower of Christ, I have learned to trust His plan, and know that a no can mean not yet, or something even better. Yet hearing it from a fellow brother or sister in Christ brings forth an alternate avenue of trusting God. Bringing His children together combines a vast amount of unique human creation. To gather His children not only exposes His glory, but also exposes where the devil is at play. Fears emerge, mistrust is rampant, and following your own path is prevalent. Taking hands and walking together seems highly unlikely when so much uniqueness is combined. Having a difference of opinion with a brother or sister in Christ is yet another avenue to let His glory shine. To not see Jesus in someone if they have a different vision than you, or they’re telling you something you don’t want to hear, is only letting the devil win. God doesn’t work in a series of yes, upon yes, upon easy and easier streets. You must chase after His path, work hard to stay on it, and not allow the darkness to swallow your vision and cause you to lose sight. The bible doesn’t promise us our own path. It promises one path. We will intersect on this journey. To love despite disagreement is to see God in a new way. Love is what we were created from. Scripture consistently reminds us that we are all one body, with many parts. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one bodywhether Jew or Gentiles, slave or freeand we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:1213 We were not made to be working against each other. Our Spirit is shared through the love that God had when creating us. We can feed in to that love in one another by walking together in harmony. Disagreements will most certainly happen, but how we nurture that disagreement depends on what Spirit you will feed. When I see the Sun and the Moon dance around each other, creating one new day on to the next, I cannot help but think that the same God that created them to work in perfect harmony, also created His children. Us. We were made to feed each other’s spirits, to unify His love in one another.

R E A C H I N G " I D O N ’ T K N O W I F I ’ V E E V E R M E T A N Y O N E L I K E H E R . H E R PA S T D O E S N ’ T W E I G H H E R D O W N . W H O S H E U S E D T O B E I S S O FA R R E M O V E D FROM WHO SHE IS"

B Y A N G I E L A N G

need to tell you about her. She’s got long wavy hair, sometimes up and sometimes down. Her eyes sparkle and her drawl wraps around you like a warm, heavy quilt. I’ve never met anyone quite like her before, but our meeting is Godordained in a way I never quite imagined. Because there’s this part of me deep down – if you go past the layers, past the smile and the degrees and the cross I wear around my neck – that really struggles to believe that real change is possible. That we don’t all just go back to the dark corners we emerged from. That we don’t willingly put on those burdens we carry, the ones heavily draped in shame. And I can tell you what I’m supposed to believe. As a Christian, as a someday therapist – but if we’re being honest, there are days when it’s just hard. But this girl – I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like her. Her past doesn’t weigh her down. Who she used to be is so far removed from who she is now and she talks as if it has no part of her anymore. Because it doesn’t. This woman – she met Jesus at the well. She’s the Samaritan woman, just like we all are, standing before Him and He knows it all. He knows where we’ve been and the things we hold onto. He knows the secret thoughts that are buried so deep we often forget they are there. He knows it all. And yet, He still tells us that those things don’t make us who we are. He does. He reaches out to us, in our brokenness and whispers, “That’s not who you are anymore. I’m going to show you who you are in Me.” And because He reached down to her, it’s as if I can see the hand reaching down to me. Outstretched, waiting for me to grab onto it, with eyes only for Jesus. And because she’s a living testimony to a life only Jesus can change – I reach out for the hand, too.

ANGELICMUSIC

MUSIC S P O T L I GH T: S H E R I LY N KELLER WORSHIP

LEADER

SAN

OBISPO

LUIS

sherilyn keller

" P O U R I N G MY H AUDIENCE WOU MU C H MY S O CHANGED BUT T

I N T E RV I E W B Y J E S S E A N AYA

t was the Spring of 2018 and I traveled home to visit my dad and brother. Home has been a distant subject, one I've avoided for many years and as the years have gone by I've gotten better about changing the subject. I walked into Mountainbrook Church on Sunday morning during my visit home – and if you can imagine a picturesque setting with mountains and lush hills surrounding the windows of its campus in San Luis Obispo, California – a quiet college town a few not so far moments from the California coast, this is exactly what Mountainbrook Church looks like. The worship band took the stage and people began to climb out of their seats to sing songs and clap their hands. I scanned the room with my eyes, taking in the setting and in some ways it felt good to be back home again. A worship leader, a singer with presence took charge of the band and I said to myself, “Maybe one day I'll ask her to be featured in the magazine.” I'm not certain why I thought it – perhaps it was a whisper from God, I don't fully know but I locked it in my memory bank unaware of if that one day would come. Seasons had passed and it was now near Christmas, and my life's circumstances had changed. I found myself back in San Luis Obispo and that one day came to reality. I reached out to Sherilyn Keller, worship leader for Mountainbrook Church and asked if she would like to be featured in the mag? The interview was set and I found myself back at the campus of Mountainbrook Church sitting in an office with two acoustic guitars hanging on the wall to the left of me with a piano nearby and some guitar cases in the background. Sherilyn's office was a blend of a serious musician mixed with the hints of a woman in ministry. On her wall a creatively designed poster hung titled “Woven for Women” and her desk had the scene of schedules and tasks. ANGELIC: When did your story with music and Jesus begin? Keller: As a little girl I would write songs. My dad was a pastor and he would be at his office and I'd go into where the congregration gathered and get on stage and sing into the microphone. The building would be empty and I guess without realizing it that's where it first began. My dad and I would sing songs together and being around music was something that has always been a part of my life. ANGELIC: When did you know you wanted to take music seriously? Keller: For many years I played the flute and it was my life. I wanted to be the best at it and wanted to perform in orchestra's. It's what I wanted my profession to be and I was accepted into a prestigious program after high school to continue on with it and it's all I

H E A RT O U T TO H E A L MY S E L F I F O U N D P E O P L E I N T H E UL D COME UP TO ME AF T E R S H O WS AND T E L L ME HOW NG CONNECTED WITH THEIR LIFE. THE BUILDING T H E P U R P O S E D I D N ' T. "

ANGELICMUSIC ever wanted and thought I would be doing. Around that same time the church I was going to let the youth lead worship and I had never done anything like it before and really didn't know what I was doing. But something about it connected with me. I began to write more songs and with the support of my church recorded a little album. ANGELIC: What came next for you? Keller: I'm in a season of turning down all my scholarships and I attended a worship conference workshop and it was there where I really felt the Lord pulling me to push through the wind of getting through this process. An opportunity to lead worship for a church in Seattle happened and I found myself traveling across the country to be a part of this church plant. And during that time Vineyard Music wanted to record me and in that season of my life I would travel and perform with them for conferences. For the bulk of my twenty's that's how those chapters of life went. ANGELIC: Take me through that time to present day? Keller: Well, I reconnected with a guy I went to high school with and eventually things progressed, we got married and I found myself moving to Atlanta as that's where he was going to seminary. During that time I was writing and singing and just really busy. But then one day I came home and my husband told me he wanted a divorce. I was completely blindsided by it. We went to counseling for 8 sessions and after the eighth session he told me he was filing for divorce. The house we were living in belonged to the church my husband was a part of and I

"I T HOUGHT WHI L E I WAS WAITING F OR MY VI S A TO BE AP P BRAZIL I 'D GI VE I T A S HOT. AND AF T E R BE I NG HE RE I K NEW I D LEAVE AND I T 'S WHE RE I 'VE BEEN E VE R S I NCE ."

P ROVE D F OR DI DN'T WANT TO I was asked to leave and the only place I had to go was my parents. I lost my husband, the home we lived in and my church community all in one swoop. ANGELIC: I imagine that was rough. Keller: In that time my mom died and it was the roughest time of my life. I stopped singing, writing and didn't do anything with music. After seasons of trying of not doing anything with music I started writing songs of the pain I was experiencing in life. Very different from the music I used to write and instead of singing at church I found myself singing at openmic nights and places you wouldn't assume a worship leader would be at singing. But I realized that though the audience wasn't in a church building, when I sang it became like a church for me. Pouring my heart out to heal I found people in the audience would come up to me after shows and tell me how much my song connected with their life. The building changed but the purpose didn't. ANGELIC: So how did you wind up in San Luis Obispo? Keller: One of my songs that I recorded with Vineyard Music was translated in Portuguese and became a popular song of worship in Brazil. I was invited to go to Brazil for a worship conference to sing my song and taught myself how to sing it in Portuguese. I eventually was invited to do further ministry in Brazil and thought it's where I was supposed to be. I came back to the States and was waiting on a permanent visa to move to Brazil and kept waiting when an opportunity to possibly lead worship at a church called Mountain Brook was told to me about it from a friend. They wanted to to meet me and I really wasn't focused on moving to California as I thought I was going to be living in Brazil. But I met the pastors anyway. They wanted me to not commit fully to it but try it out for a season and then we'd both decide if it'd be a fit. I thought while I was waiting for my visa to be approved for Brazil I'd give it a shot. And after being here I knew I didn't want to leave and it's where I've been ever since.

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Q+ A INTERVI

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